Blackhawks eye moving Saad to center

Chicago Tribune

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Brandon Saad looked at ease as he skated up the middle of the ice with his head up and put a pass right on the tape of winger Marian Hossa’s stick before he headed to the front of the net.

His maneuvers during the Blackhawks’ first on-ice session of training camp last week clearly indicated the second-year Hawks forward could adapt to center though he never has played the position.

“No,” said Saad, a former Mahoning Valley Phantom. “I was always wing. I’ve played both sides of the wing, but never center.”

Flanked by veterans Hossa and Patrick Sharp, Saad began what could be a new chapter in his hockey development after a season spent at left wing that produced a spot among the finalists for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year.

Saad is the latest candidate the Hawks hope will be the answer to their on-going conundrum at No. 2 center. After experimenting with shifting Patrick Kane from his natural right wing to the middle two seasons ago and Dave Bolland shifting as a defensive specialist to the more offense-oriented role as second-line center in 2013, it’s Saad’s turn.

“I got my first taste of it,” Saad, 20, said. “It’s going to be a learning experience but I’m playing with some pretty good players so that’s definitely going to help out. I’m pretty excited, actually.

“Center is usually one of the best players on the ice and you get to come up the middle and play well defensively. It’s going to be something new for me, but I pride myself on usually playing well defensively.”

Interestingly, coach Joel Quenneville was relying on Saad’s previous experience as a center to ease the transition as “he should be able to adapt to something he’s familiar with.” When a reporter informed him Saad claimed never to have played the position, Quenneville expressed surprise.

“He never has played center?” Quenneville said. “Oh, I thought he played there in juniors at some point.”

After regrouping, Quenneville said Saad’s style is suited for center.

“He goes all over the ice anyway,” Quenneville said. “No matter where he’s at, he has the puck a lot. When he has it, he does some good things and you like his size.

“One thing he has to adapt to is how he plays down low in his own end. That will be the determining factor on how well he’s going to do at it and how long he’s going to be doing it.”

Kane had more success than Bolland, who was traded to the Maple Leafs in the offseason, in making the move but the Hawks eventually moved him back to wing. During their run to the Cup in 2013, Michal Handzus emerged as a serviceable No. 2 center but the search is on for a long-term solution.

Kane believes Saad can pull it off.

“[Saad] gets the puck back so easily,” Kane said. “He has a lot of speed coming up the ice and a lot of confidence with his plays.”

Saad, who had 10 goals and 17 assists in 46 games at wing last season, realizes adjustments are ahead.

“This is a whole new position so I have a lot to improve on there,” Saad said. “Faceoffs [are] something I’m going to need to work on for sure and just being aware out there and coming up the middle is going to be different.”

Last season, Saad won 17 of 46 faceoffs, mostly stepping in when Jonathan Toews was tossed from the circle. It’s an area for which Saad will rely on advice from the Hawks captain.

“I’m definitely going to use that to my advantage,” Saad said. “Jonny is ... the premier center in the league and he does a great job of it.”